A Trip to the York Railway Museum
Trying something new can be a big step, particularly when it means travelling further than you have before and experiencing somewhere unfamiliar. For Richard, a recent trip to the York Railway Museum was an opportunity to do exactly that. With the support and reassurance of his Support Workers, Michael and Karen, they had a wonderful time.
Michael had the idea the day before to take Richard to the York Railway Museum. He asked Richard if he would be interested in going to York by bus, and he said he was.
To include Richard in what the day would involve, Michael printed an easy-read social story. This explained what they would be doing, when they would get the bus and how long the journey would take. Having this information beforehand helped Richard to know what to expect and gave him time to prepare for the experience.
Later that same day, they took a trip to the local transport museum. This gave them the chance to see if Richard enjoyed it and helped prepare him for the kind of day he might have in York. The next day, Richard immediately asked if they were still going to the museum in York, and Michael said as long as he still wanted to. Richard replied,
"I do, I'm looking forward to it.”
They then boarded the bus, where Richard greeted the bus driver and said,
“Three to York, please!”
When they arrived, they discovered that due to road closures there was an additional 20-minute walk from the bus station to the museum. This didn’t faze Richard at all. He took the walk in his stride, chatting with other people who were also making their way towards the museum and remaining in wonderful spirits throughout.
Once the group arrived at the museum, they headed inside and began exploring the exhibits. Richard immediately spotted an old engine and exclaimed,
“Gosh, well, isn’t that massive!”
As they continued looking around, Richard came across another exhibit and asked,
“Ah, is that Stephenson’s Rocket?”
The team wasn't sure, so they checked the information sign, and Richard was absolutely correct!
The rest of the afternoon was spent having lunch at the museum and continuing to explore the exhibits. Richard enjoyed discussing how old each train was and what each one did.
When they got home, Michael called Richard’s parents and told them about the day. They were so happy that everyone had enjoyed it and that everything had gone well. They shared that they were proud of all of them.
Several team members mentioned what a big step it was for Richard. It was a great achievement and highlighted what Richard can accomplish when he has the opportunity, preparation and support to succeed.
Most importantly, Richard enjoyed the experience. He stepped outside his comfort zone, tried something new and discovered he could do something that previously may have seemed like a challenge.
It was a day they were glad they could do together. Seeing Richard enjoy himself and take such a big step was a fantastic experience.
Michael described their outing perfectly, saying:
“The day was something I'm glad we could do. And much like Richard, I'm already planning the next trip."
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